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Craving for Khaosuey

You know what I love more than biryani? A success story in Karachi's competitive food and beverage industry. One such recent addition is Saniya's Kitchen, which started off really small as a stall at Karachi Eat Festival a few years ago, and there's been no looking back since for the owner who has put her heart and soul into her work, Saniya. When she invited my friends and I for a taste testing of her menu, I couldn't help but be honored and humbled that she trusted my taste buds. Now, even though this was an invitation the feedback given directly to the owner was honest, direct and at times, brutal because it is only when we truthfully share our concerns and give constructive criticism that an eatery thrives and grows.

Starting off as a home-based business selling delicious khaosuey, Saniya has since then opened a small eatery on Seher Commercial Avenue, right in the lane of The Burger Shack. The nicely lit sign in grey is pretty easy to spot upon entering the lane, and the eatery itself is nicely lit and has both chairs and benches to accommodate customers.

The menu boasts a primarily Thai menu, but also has a few specialties thrown in such as chicken strips for kids and and Kung Pao Chicken. The pricing of the food items is beyond reasonable, considering the ingredients used for the dishes. The helpings are enough for two to three moderately hungry people, and are definitely worth a try.

We were stuffed to our gills with all the food my friends and I tried. The fried wontons were definitely different with a mayonnaise and chicken mince filling, something I'm positive my dad would love. The Tom Yum Soup had kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and bamboo, imparting all their aromatic flavors into the coconut milk concoction. Moving on to the mains, the star of the show for me was definitely the crabs. The spice on the shell went well with the sweet tender crab meat inside, so prepare to get down and dirty with these beauties. The next hit with everyone was the Garlic Rice, strongly seasoned with garlic and just absolutely delicious on its own. The Thai Red Curry for the price was sufficient, and feedback was given to the owner for improvement. The tender succulent pieces of Mongolian Beef was the next hit item on the menu, followed by the Kung Pao Chicken, which I didn't even get a chance to try. Thanks, guys -_- I also enjoyed the tangy flavor and tender Tamarind Fish, which while cannot compare to other eateries, has a flavor profile of its own and is definitely worth a try.

All in all, this was a fun and well-spent evening with friends eating delicious food and celebrating the success of yet another local eatery. Wishing Saniya all the best in her future endeavors.















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